Over 16 Million Children Vaccinated Against Measles in Afghanistan, WHO Reports
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in its annual report that during the nationwide measles vaccination campaign, 16.6 million children in Afghanistan were vaccinated. This achievement comes amid ongoing challenges posed by vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.
According to the report, positive cases of polio have decreased from 25 in 2024 to 21 in 2025. Additionally, 18 million children have received polio vaccinations this year.
The WHO added that more than 189,000 people, including returning migrants, received medical and trauma care services at border crossings with Iran and Pakistan. These services were provided in response to urgent health needs at the border areas.
In terms of strengthening the health system, the agency stated that in 2025, emergency aid deliveries to maintain crisis preparedness continued, with 2,978 tons of life-saving medical equipment and supplies transported to 489 health centers across the country.
Furthermore, aiming to improve treatment for cancer patients, the National Cancer Hospital has been renovated, over $500,000 worth of specialized cancer medications have been procured, and the establishment of Afghanistan’s first radiotherapy center has commenced. Afghanistan is among the countries that have faced a significant shortage of specialized cancer treatment facilities in recent years.
